NARA Coast to Coast: WWII Homefront and Chicago Radio

Today's post is written by Katie Dishman, of the National Archives at Chicago. September 2 is not necessarily a day which will live in infamy; nevertheless it is significant in world history marking the formal end of World War II in 1945 when Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender on the USS Missouri. While the … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: WWII Homefront and Chicago Radio

NARA Coast to Coast: Too Smart-o for Their Own Good

Today's post is written by Katie Dishman, of the National Archives at Chicago. Not all crimes are worthy of great publicity. Petty thievery is commonplace, and certainly does not warrant a lot of attention.  However, some cases are considered “perfect” crimes. One happened near Chicago and is documented not only in the National Archives, but … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Too Smart-o for Their Own Good

NARA Coast to Coast: Announcing the 2011 National Archives Regional Residency Fellowship Recipients

I am happy to announce the 2011 recipients of the National Archives Regional Residency Fellowship. This new program, with the generous support of the Foundation for the National Archives provides the fellows a unique opportunity to conduct original research utilizing the holdings of the National Archives location by which they were selected. Although their research … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Announcing the 2011 National Archives Regional Residency Fellowship Recipients

Money-Making and Public Art-Loving: The Image of Chicago

The following post is by guest blogger Kristina Maldre of the National Archives at Chicago.  Thanks Kristina! Kids slide down the base of the Picasso statue in Chicago. Tourists stare at themselves and the skyline in the surface of “The Bean.” Nine-to-fivers shuffle under the red Calder piece in the Federal Plaza to their offices five days … Continue reading Money-Making and Public Art-Loving: The Image of Chicago

NARA Coast to Coast: Henry T. Elrod, U.S. Marine Corps Fighting Squadron 211

The following post is by guest blogger Corey Stewart of the Archival Programs Division at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.  Thanks Corey! Photograph, Capt. Henry T. Elrod, February 1, 1940 Just hours after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched an attack on Wake Island, December 8, 1941.  The initial enemy bombing runs … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Henry T. Elrod, U.S. Marine Corps Fighting Squadron 211

NARA Coast to Coast: Emigration Records at the National Archives at Philadelphia, Part 1

There have been numerous posts on the NARAtions blog about people who have immigrated to the United States and how to locate their records, but what if you have ancestors who emigrated from the United States? In this two part series, we’ll look at two unique series of records from the National Archives at Philadelphia … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Emigration Records at the National Archives at Philadelphia, Part 1

Family Tree Friday: Building Your Family Tree with Military and Civilian Personnel Records

This week's Family Tree Friday post comes from guest blogger Theresa Fitzgerald from the National Archives at St. Louis.  Theresa shows us the wealth of genealogical information available within the National Personnel Records Center! There’s often one question when beginning one’s family tree: Where do I begin? Many start with their own family collection of … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Building Your Family Tree with Military and Civilian Personnel Records

NARA Coast to Coast: "Pay Day" for Some World War I Military Personnel Records

Today, guest blogger Theresa Fitzgerald from the National Archives at St. Louis has written a special NARA Coast-to-Coast post sharing some recent discoveries in World War I era military records. On July 12, 1973 a fire engulfed the sixth floor of the Military Personnel Records Center. This event destroyed 80% of all Army personnel records with discharge dates between November … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: "Pay Day" for Some World War I Military Personnel Records

NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, part 2

In the NARA Coast-to Coast post last week, we discussed the general process for naturalization. This week we will focus on some of the exceptions to the normal process for minors, women, and aliens serving in the U.S. military. Naturalization and Minors (Children) Minor children were granted derivative citizenship when their father, or after 1922 … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, part 2

NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, Part 1

For the next two NARA Coast-to-Coast features we are going to write about naturalization records.  This week we will discuss naturalization in general and the records you may be able to find at the National Archives.  Next week we will discuss naturalization for minor children, women, and aliens in the U.S. military. Naturalization is the … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, Part 1